Fungicidal composition and use of this composition for controlling plant diseases

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a fungicidal composition comprising at least one fungicidal compound of the family of anilinopyrimidines and imazalil, and the use of such a composition combining these active compounds for controlling plant diseases or the phytopathogenic fungi present or capable of appearing on plants.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national phase conversionof PCT/EP02/09425, filed Jul. 24, 2002, which claims priority of FrenchApplication No. 0110301 filed Aug. 1, 2001.

The present invention relates to a fungicidal composition comprising atleast one fungicidal compound of the family of anilinopyrimidines andimazalil, and the use of such a composition combining these activecompounds for controlling plant diseases or the phytopathogenic fungipresent or capable of appearing on plants.

Fungicidal compounds of the family of anilinopyrimidines are known fromthe literature and in particular from the book entitled The ElectronicPesticide Manual version 1.1 (by British Crop Protection Council,published by Clive Tomlin); this book also describes imazalil for itsfungicidal properties.

Moreover, French Patent Application No. 2 692 108 which essentiallyrelates to mixtures based on pyrimethanil and numerous other compoundsgives a list of more than eleven types of families of fungicidalcompounds and of more than 70 candidate compounds for the mixture; amongthis systematic list of compounds, only 23 mixtures have led tolaboratory experimentation, none under open field conditions. Thus, evenif the pyrimethanil and imazalil mixture is mentioned by this document,this mixture was not prepared and even less tested.

However, it is still desirable to improve the products which can be usedby the farmer for controlling fungicidal diseases of plants and inparticular of crops.

It is also still desirable to improve the fungicidal products used fortreating fruit.

In addition, while imazalil may be used as a preventive and curativetreatment, this curative effect remains limited over time.

It is also still desirable to reduce the doses of chemical productsapplied to plants or fruit, in particular by reducing the applied dosesof the products.

It is finally still desirable to increase the range of availableantifungal products in order to find among them those best suited tospecific uses.

It is also still advantageous to have antifungal means of treatingfruit, in particular after harvest, and which can be reused or recycledduring their application.

Likewise, it is very advantageous to have a means of protecting fruitsduring their preservation, their storage, their transport and up totheir marketing or their consumption.

It has also become essential to be able to have antifungal means oftreatment which limit or avoid phenomena of resistance ofphytopathogenic organisms.

It is also advantageous to have such products which have the broadestpossible activity spectrum.

To the numerous problems which have just been disclosed, there are addedmost often those linked to the protection of the environment,environmental problems to which the users of fungicidal activeingredients, as well as consumers of products obtained from these crops,are increasingly sensitive.

Another difficulty relating to the use of numerous fungicidal substanceslies in the accumulation of several of the problems which have just beendisclosed. It is indeed even more difficult to solve the problems posedwhen they accumulate because the solutions which can be envisaged aresometimes antinomical or even antagonistic.

A first object of the present invention consists in providing fungicidalcompositions possessing a broad activity spectrum, that is to saypossessing a substantial activity on a larger number of phytopathogenicfungi than the number of phytopathogenic fungi treated with knowncompositions.

A second object of the invention consists in providing fungicidalcompositions possessing both a preventive effect and a curative effect,in particular an improved curative effect compared with the fungicidalcompositions currently used.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing fungicidalcompositions which can effectively control fungal strains resistant toknown fungicidal compositions.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide fungicidalcompositions which are effective at significantly lower doses comparedwith the doses currently applied.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing fungicidalcompositions.

Another object of the present invention consists in providing afungicidal composition possessing preventive, curative, eradicant andantisporulant properties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compositionuseful to control plant phytopathogenic organisms after harvest, notablyon fruit.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the disclosure of theinvention which is presented in the remainder of the presentdescription.

Surprisingly, it has been discovered that all of these objects may beachieved completely or in part using the fungicidal compositions whichare the subject of the present invention.

The present invention also proposes achieving all or some of theobjectives which have just been mentioned.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least onefungicidal compound of the family of anilinopyrimidines and imazalil.

Among the anilinopyrimidine-type fungicidal compounds, thoseadvantageously suitable for the composition according to the inventionare cyprodinil, mepanipyrim and pyrimethanil.

The preferred combination of active ingredients according to the presentinvention is the association of pyrimethanil and imazalil.

References to methods for preparing such anilinopyrimidine compounds andimazalil will be found in the book cited above.

In the composition according to the invention, the ratio of thequantities of compound of the family of anilinopyrimidines and imazalilgenerally ranges from 0.0005 to 250, preferably from 0.05 to 10.

However, the ratio of these compounds ranging from 0.1 to 10, preferablyfrom 0.15 to 6, still more preferably from 0.25 to 4, have proved evenmore advantageous.

Usually, the compositions according to the invention comprise between0.00001 and 100%, preferably between 0.001 and 80%, of active compounds,whether these compounds are combined, or whether they are in the form oftwo active ingredients used separately.

Unless otherwise stated, the proportions and percentages used ordescribed throughout the present description and in the claims whichwill follow are proportions or percentages by weight.

For their use in practice, the active substances of the compositionaccording to the invention are rarely used alone.

Thus, for their use, these active ingredients are usually combined witha solid or liquid carrier which can be used in particular in theagricultural field, and optionally with at least one surfactant and/orone or more auxiliary agents.

In particular, as carriers, there may be used inert and customarycarriers; likewise, as surfactant, there may be used the customarysurfactants in the field of formulation of compositions, which areintended for agricultural use, in particular for the treatment orprotection of crops such as those of the present invention.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the variousfungicidal compositions according to the invention which have beendescribed up until now may also be in the form of tank mixes.

These fungicidal compositions in the form of tank mixes are usually inthe form of dilute fungicidal compositions.

Most often, these so-called tank mix fungicidal compositions are mixedin the reservoir of the application device.

Usually, the fungicidal compounds used in the compositions according tothe invention are therefore combined with one or more carriers and/orone or more substances useful for their formulation. Thus, whereappropriate, the compositions according to the invention may comprise upto 99% of carrier and/or up to 25% of one or more surfactants and/or upto 25% of one or more formulating agents.

In the present disclosure, the term carrier designates a natural orsynthetic, organic or inorganic material with which the activeingredient(s) are in the compositions according to the invention, inparticular to facilitate their application to a plant, a fruit oralternatively to seeds or to the soil.

This carrier is therefore generally inert and should most often beacceptable in agriculture, in particular by the treated plant or by thefruit of this plant in the broad sense.

As examples of solid carriers which can be used, there may be mentionednatural or synthetic silicates, resins, waxes, fine powders or granulesof clay, in particular kaolinic clay, diatomaceous earth, bentonite oracidic clay, synthetic silicon oxide hydrate, talcs, ceramics, otherminerals including sericite, quartz, sulphur, activated charcoal,calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, or alternatively industrialfertilizers such as ammonium sulphate, ammonium phosphate, ammoniumnitrate, urea or ammonium chloride.

As examples of liquid carriers which can be used, there may be mentionedwater, alcohols and in particular methanol or ethanol, ketones and inparticular acetone, methyl ethyl ketone or cyclohexanone, petroleumfractions, aromatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, xylene,ethylbenzene or methylnaphthalene, nonaromatic hydrocarbons includinghexane, cyclohexane, kerosene or gas oil, liquefied gas, estersincluding ethyl acetate and butyl acetate, nitriles includingacetonitrile and isobutyronitrile, ethers including diisopropyl ether ordioxane, amides including N,N-dimethylformamide orN,N-dimethylacetamide, halogenated hydrocarbons includingdichloromethane, trichloroethane or carbon tetrachloride, dimethylsulphoxide, vegetable oils including soybean oil or cottonseed oil.

The surfactant(s) may be emulsifying, dispersing or wetting agents ofthe ionic or nonionic type.

It is possible, for example, to mention salts of polyacrylic acids,salts of lignosulphonic acids, salts of phenolsulphonic ornaphthalenesulphonic acids, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fattyalcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols,in particular alkylphenols or arylphenols, salts of sulphosuccinic acidesters, derivatives of taurine, in particular alkyl taurates, phosphoricesters of polyoxyethylated alcohols or phenols; it is also possible tomention most particularly alkyl sulphonate salts, alkylaryl sulphonates,alkylaryl ethers, polyoxyethylenic derivatives thereof, polyethyleneglycol ethers, polyalcohol esters, derivatives of sugars, alcohols andthe like.

The presence of at least one surfactant is generally essential when atleast one of the active ingredients and/or the inert carrier are notsoluble, in particular in water, in the case where the carrier agent forthe application is water.

In the compositions according to the invention, it is also possible tocombine with the active compounds all sorts of other ingredients oragents such as, for example, protective colloids, adhesives, thickeningagents, thixotropic agents, penetrating agents, stabilizing agentsincluding isopropyl hydrogen phosphate,2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 2-tert-butyl4-methoxyphenol and3-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol, vegetable or mineral oils, fatty acids oresters thereof, sequestering agents, dispersing agents including casein,gelatin, saccharides and in particular starch powder, gum arabic,certain derivatives of cellulose or alginic acid, derivatives of lignin,bentonite, synthetic polymers soluble in water, in particular polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acids, and the like, as wellas other active ingredients known for their pesticidal, in particularinsecticidal or fungicidal, properties; or for their plant growthpromoting properties, in particular fertilizers; or for their insect orplant growth regulating properties.

Thus, the fungicidal compositions according to the invention may takefairly diverse forms, in particular they may be in solid or liquidforms.

More generally, the compositions according to the invention may takenumerous forms of formulations; thus, these compositions comprising theactive compounds may be used in the form of an aerosol dispenser;suspension of capsules; cold fogging concentrate; dustable powder;emulsifiable concentrate; aqueous/aqueous type emulsion; oil/inversetype emulsion; encapsulated granule; fine granule; suspensionconcentrate for seed treatment; compressed gas; gas generating product;granule; hot fogging concentrate; macrogranule; microgranule;oil-dispersible powder, oil miscible suspension concentrate;oil-miscible liquid; paste; plant rodlet; powder for dry seed treatment;seed coated with a pesticide; smoke candle; smoke cartridge; smokegenerator; smoke pellet; smoke rodlet; smoke tablet; smoke tin; solubleconcentrate; soluble powder; solution for seed treatment; suspensionconcentrate (=flowable concentrate); tracking powder; ultra low volumeliquid; ultra low volume suspension; vapour releasing product;water-dispersible granules or tablets; water dispersible powder forslurry treatment; water-soluble granules or tablets; water-solublepowder for seed treatment; wettable powder; as well as possiblemixtures, associations or combinations of these various forms.

Most often, for dustable powder or dispersion type formulations, thecontent of active compounds may be up to 100%; likewise, forformulations in the form of granules, in particular those obtained byextrusion, compacting, impregnation of a granular support, orgranulation using a powder, the content of fungicidal compounds in thesegranules according to the invention is most often between 0.5 and 80%.

The fungicidal compositions according to the invention, which are termedconcentrated compositions, comprise the active compounds in the form ofemulsifiable or soluble concentrates, comprise most often from 25 to100% of these active ingredients; the emulsions or solutions ready forapplication containing, for their part, from 0.00001 to 20% of activeingredients.

It goes without saying that the expression active ingredients should beunderstood throughout the present disclosure as, where appropriate, anactive ingredient or a fungicidal compound alone, but also a combinationof these two active ingredients.

In addition to the solvent, the emulsifiable concentrates may contain,when necessary, 2 to 20% of appropriate additives such as stabilizingagents, surfactants, penetrating agents, corrosion inhibitors, colouringagents or adhesives mentioned above.

The compositions according to the invention in the form of suspensionconcentrates, which can also be applied by spraying, are prepared so asto obtain a stable, fluid product which does not become deposited; theyusually contain from 2 to 75% of active ingredients, from 0.5 to 15% ofsurfactants, from 0.1 to 10% of thixotropic agents, from 0 to 10% ofappropriate additives, such as antifoaming agents, corrosion inhibitors,stabilizing agents, penetrating agents and adhesives; and, as carrier,water or an organic liquid in which the active ingredient(s) aresparingly soluble or insoluble, or alternatively mixtures of several ofthese solvents, organic or otherwise.

Some solid organic substances or inorganic salts may be dissolved in thecarrier to retard or prevent sedimentation; or alternatively suchsubstances may be used as antifreeze for water.

The fungicidal compositions according to the invention which take theform of wettable powders or flo-dusts are usually prepared so that theycontain from 20 to 95% of active ingredients.

Moreover, they usually contain, in addition to a solid carrier, from 0to 5% of a wetting agent, from 3 to 10% of a dispersing agent, and,where appropriate, from 0 to 10% of one or more stabilizing agentsand/or other additives, such as penetrating agents, adhesives, oranticaking agents, colouring agents and the like.

To obtain these flo-dusts or wettable powders, the active ingredient(s)are intimately mixed in appropriate mixers with additional substances,and they are ground with mills or other appropriate grinders. Flo-dustsare then obtained whose wettability and suspension are particularlyadvantageous; they can be suspended with water at any desiredconcentration.

Rather than wettable powders, it is possible to prepare fungicidalcompositions according to the invention which are in the form of pastes.

The conditions and modalities for the preparation and use of thesepastes are similar to those of wettable powders or flo-dusts.

As already stated, aqueous dispersions and emulsions, for example thefungicidal compositions obtained by diluting with water a wettablepowder or an emulsifiable concentrate according to the invention, areincluded in the general context of the present invention.

The emulsions may be of the water-in-oil or oil-in-water type and theymay have a thick or fairly thick consistency.

In addition to the fungicidal compounds of the family ofanilinopyrimidines and imazalil, the composition according to theinvention may also comprise other active compounds and in particular oneor more active compounds useful for protecting plants against pests.

Among such active compounds, the composition according to the inventionmay therefore comprise one or more insecticidal, herbicidal orfungicidal compounds or growth regulating compounds.

Among the additional insecticidal, acaricidal or nematicidal activeingredients which may be used alone or in combination with other activeingredients, in particular pesticides, in the composition according tothe invention, there may be mentioned abamectin; acephate; acetamiprid;oleic acid; acrinathrin; aldicarb; alanycarb; allethrin [(1r)-isomers];α-cypermethrin; amitraz; azadirachtin; azamethiphos; azinphos-ethyl;azinphos-methyl; bacillus thurigiensi; bendiocarb; benfuracarb;bensultap; beta-cyfluthrin; beta-cypermethrin; bifenthrin; bioallathrin;bioallethrin (isomer s-cyclopentenyl); bioresmethrin; borax; buprofezin;butocarboxim; butoxycarboxim; piperonyl butoxide; cadusafos; carbaryl;carbofuran; carbosulphan; cartap; cartap hydrochloride; chlordane;chlorethoxyfos; chlorfenapyr; chlorfenvinphos; chlorfluazuron;chlormephos; chloropicrin; chlorpyrifos; chlorpyrifos-methyl; mercury(I)chloride; coumaphos; cryolite; cryomazine; cyanophos; calcium cyanide;sodium cyanide; cycloprothrin; cyfluthrin; cyhalothrin; cypermethrin;cyphenothrin [(1r)-trans-isomers]; dazomet; ddt; deltamethrin;demeton-s-methyl; diafenthiuron; diazinon; ethylene dibromide; ethylenedichloride; dichlorvos; dicrotophos; diflubenzuron; dimethoate;dimethylvinphos; diofenolan; disulfoton; dnoc; dpx-jw062 and dp;empenthrin [(ez)-(1r)-isomers]; endosulfan; ent 8184; epn;esfenvalerate; ethiofencarb; ethion; ethiprole having the chemical name5-amino-3-cyano-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-ethylsulphinylpyrazole;ethoprophos; etofenprox; etrimfos; famphur; fenitrothion; fenobucarb;fenoxycarb; fenpropathrin; fenthion; fenvalerate; fipronil;flucycloxuron; flucythrinate; flufenoxuron; flufenprox; flumethrin;fluofenprox; sodium fluoride; sulphuryl fluoride; fonofos; formetanate;formetanate hydrochloride; formothion; furathiocarb; gamma-hch; gy-81;halofenozide; heptachlor; heptenophos; hexaflumuron; sodiumhexafluorosilicate; tar oils; petroleum; hydramethylnon; hydrogencyanide; hydroprene; imidacloprid; imiprothin; isazofos; isofenphos;isoprocarb; methyl isothiocyanal; isoxathion; lambda-cyhalothrin;pentachlorophenyl laurate; lufenuron; malathion; mb-599; mecarbam;methacrifos; methamidophos; methidathion; methiocarb; methomyl;methoprene; methoxychlor; metolcarb; mevinphos; milbemectin;monocrotophos; naled; nicotine; nitenpyram; nithiazine; novaluron;omethoate; oxamyl; oxydemeton-methyl; paecilomyces fumosoroseus;parathion; parathion-methyl; pentachlorophenol; sodiumpentachlorophenoxide; permethrin; phenothrin [(1r)-trans-isomer];phenthoate; phorate; phosalone; phosmet; phosphamidon; phosphine;aluminium phosphide; magnesium phosphide; zinc phosphide; phoxim;pirimicarb; pirimiphos-ethyl; pirimiphos-methyl; calcium polysulphide;prallethrin; profenofos; propaphos; propetamphos; propoxur; prothiofos;pyraclofos; pyrethrins (chrysanthemates, pyrethrates, pyrethrum);pyretrozine; pyridaben; pyridaphenthion; pyrimidifen; pyriproxyfen;quinalphos; resmethrin; rh-2485; rotenone; ru 15525; silafluofen;sulcofuron-sodium; sulfotep; sulfuramide; sulprofos; α-fluvalinate;tebufenozide; tebupirimfos; teflubenzuron; tefluthrin; temephos;terbufos; tetrachlorvinphos; tetramethrin; tetramethrin [(1r)-isomers];theta-cypermethrin; thiocyclam; thicyclam hydrogen oxalate; thiodicarb;thiofanox; thiometon; tralomethrin; transfluthrin; triazamate;triazophos; trichlorfon; triflumuron; trimethacarb; vamidothion;xde-105; xmc; xylylcarb; zeta-cypermethrin; zxi 8901; the compound whosechemical name is3-acetyl-5-amino-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-methylsulphinylpyrazole.

Among the additional fungicidal active ingredients which may be usedalone or in combination with other active ingredients, in particularpesticides, in the composition according to the invention, there may bementioned 2-phenylphenol; 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate; ac 382042;ampelomyces quisqualis; azaconazole; azoxystrobin; bacillui subtilis;benalaxyl; benomyl; biphenyl; bitertanol; blasticidin-s; Bordeauxmixture; borax; bromuconazole; bupirimate; calboxin; calciumpolysulphide; captafol; captan; carbendazim; carpropamid (ktu 3616); cga279202; chinomethionat; chlorothalonil; chlozolinate; copper hydroxide;copper naphthenate; copper oxychloride; copper sulphate; copper oxide;cymoxanil; cyproconazole; cyprodinil; dazomet; debacarb; dichlofluanid;dichlomezine; dichlorophen; diclocymet; dicloran; diethofencarb;difenoconazole; difenzoquat; difenzoquat metilsulphate; diflumetorim;dimethirimol; dimethomorph; diniconazole; diniconazole-m; dinobuton;dinocap; diphenylamine; dithianon; dodemorph; dodemorph acetate; dodine;dodine free base; edifenphos; epoxiconazole (bas 480f); ethasulfocarb;ethirimol; etridiazole; famoxadone; fenamidone; fenarimol;fenbuconazole; fenfin; fenfuram; fenhexamid; fenpiclonil; fenpropidin;fenpropimorph; fentin acetate; fentin hydroxide; ferbam; ferimzone;fluazinam; fludioxonil; fluoroimide; fluquinconazole; flusilazole;flusulfamide; flutolanil; flutriafol; folpet; formaldehyde; fosetyl;fosetyl-aluminium; fuberidazole; furalaxyl; fusarium oxysporum;gliocladium virens; guazatine; guazatine acetates; gy-81;hexachlorobenzene; hexaconazole; hymexazol; icia 0858; ikf-916;imazalil; imazalil sulphate; imibenconazole; iminoctadine; iminoctadinetriacetate; iminoctadine tris[albesilate]; ipconazole; iprobenfos;iprodione; iprovalicarb; kasugamycin; kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate;kresomix-methyl; mancopper; mancozeb; maneb; mepanipyrim; mepronil;mercury(II) chloride; mercury(II) oxide; mercury(I) chloride; metalaxyl;metalaxyl-m; metam; metam-sodium; metconazole; methasulfocarb; methylisothiocyanate; metiram; metominostrobin (ssf-126); mon65500;myclotbutanil; nabam; naphthenic acid; natamycin; nickelbis(dimethyldithiocarbamate); nitrothal-isopropyl; nuarimol;octhilinone; ofurace; oleic acid (fafty acids); oxadixyl; oxine-copper;oxycarboxin; penconazole; pencycuron; pentachlorophenol;pentachlorophenyl laurate; perfurazoate; phenylmercury acetate;phlebiopsis gigantea; phthalide; piperalin; polyoxine b; polyoxines;polyoxorim; potassium hydroxyquinoline sulphate; probenazole;prochloraz; procymidone; propamocarb; propamocarb hydrochloride;propiconazole; propineb; pyrazophos; pyributicarb; pyrifenox;pyrimethanil; pyroquilon; quinoxyfen; quintozene; rh-7281;sec-butylamine; sodium 2-phenylphenoxide; sodium pentachlorophenoxide;spiroxamine (kwg 4168); streptomyces griseoviridis; sulphur; tar oils;tebuconazole; tecnazene; tetraconazole; thiabendazole; thifluzamide;thiophanate-methyl; thiram; tolclofos-methyl; tolylfluanid; triadimefon;triadimenol; triazoxide; trichoderma harzianum; tricyclazole;tridemorph; triflumizole; triforine; triticonazole; validamycin;vinclozolin; zinc naphthenate; zineb; ziram; the compounds having thechemical name(e,e)-2-(2-(1-(1-(2-pyridyl)propyloxyimino)-1-cyclopropylmethyloxymethyl)phenyl)-3-methoxy-propenoatede and 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-4-chloropyrazole.

According to another equally advantageous aspect, the present inventionalso relates to a method for the curative or preventive control ofphytopathogenic organisms of plants, such a method according to theinvention is based on the use of at least one composition according tothe invention.

Among the procedures or methods of treatment and/or protection accordingto the invention, those which are used for the treatment and/orprotection of crops are preferred, and among such methods or procedures,those for the protection of fruit, in particular after harvest, are mostparticularly preferred.

The said use of the methods according to the invention may be carriedout according to various forms and in particular using a fairly largevariety of modes of application, but also according to varioustechniques of application, or alternatively for the protection ofvarious types, varieties or families of vegetables or plants, oralternatively for combating or controlling various types ofphytopathogenic organisms.

As regards the various modes of application usefully employed during themethods according to the invention, simultaneous, separate, alternate orsequential modes of application are in particular possible.

Nevertheless, most often, the modes of application useful during themethods according to the invention and which are preferred consist ofmodes of simultaneously applying the active compounds.

However, a relatively advantageous variant of the method according tothe invention uses an alternate mode of application of the activecompounds.

Another mode of application useful for carrying out the methodsaccording to the invention relates to the sequential application of thefungicidal compounds; such a sequential mode of application may inparticular take the form of several applications of at least oneanilinopyrimidine compound, followed by several applications ofimazalil.

Quite obviously, a reverse sequential mode of application consisting inseveral applications of imazalil, followed by several applications ofanilinopyrimidine compound also forms part of the methods of the presentinvention.

The various variants of carrying out the methods according to theinvention which have just been described may also be combined orassociated, completely or partially, with each other.

Persons skilled in the art will easily know how to determine theassociations or combinations of modes of application according to theinvention which are best suited to the use of the active compounds whichthey envisage.

In addition to the various embodiments of the methods according to theinvention which have just been described, the said methods can also usea fairly large number of application techniques; thus, as saidtechniques, there may be mentioned in particular dusting, dipping,spraying, smoking or fogging, and the like.

During the application of the active compounds of the compositionaccording to the invention by dipping, in particular of fruit, thesolution used advantageously comprises from 0.01 to 1% of activeingredients, preferably from 0.02 to 0.8%, and still more preferablyfrom 0.03 to 0.6%.

Other variants of the modes of application useful for the methodsaccording to the invention exist, particularly depending on the part(s)of the plant or vegetable which are treated or which are to be treated.

Thus, the methods according to the invention may be carried out for thetreatment or protection of plant propagation material or seeds, inparticular grain seeds, tubers or rhizomes; for the treatment of roots,or for the treatment of the stems or leaves of the plants; as well asfor the treatment of the roots, or alternatively of the fruit or otherparts of the plant which possess a substantial economic or agronomicvalue.

Furthermore, the said methods according to the invention may be carriedout for the treatment of plants at numerous stages of their development,in particular for the treatment of the seeds, seedlings or seedlings fortransplantation or plants for transplantation, or alternatively plants,fruit or harvests.

Among the crops advantageously treated according to the presentinvention, there may be mentioned pome fruit, such as apples and pears,citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit,stone fruit, such as peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots,grapes, in particular table grapes, kiwis, bananas and plantains,strawberries, tomatoes, melons and pineapples.

A class of diseases advantageously treated using the present inventionmay be given per crop:

Pome fruit (apples, pears): Penicillium expansum, Gloeosporium sp.,Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructigena, Mucor sp.,

Citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit):Penicillium expensum, Penicillium digitatum, Geotrichum candidum,Phomopsis citri, Diplodia natalensis, Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes,Alternaria citri,

Stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, apricots): Botrytiscinerea, Monilinia sp. (M. laxa, fructicola), Alternaria alternata,Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Penicillium expansum, Cladosporiumherbarum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Rhizopus oryzae,

(Table) grapes: Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, Penicilliumdigitatum, Penicillium italicum, Rhizopus stolonifer, alternariaalternata,

Kiwis: Botrytis cinerea,

Bananas, plantains, skin disease (Colletotrichum musae), diseases of thecrown (Fusarium semitectum, Pusarium monlilforme, Fusariumpaledo-roseum, Acremonium sp., Botryodiplodia theo-bromae, Seratocystisparadoxa, Colletotrichum musae, Nigrospora sphaerica),

Strawberries: Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum sp., Gnomonia fructicola,Mucor sp.,

Tomatoes: Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata,

Melons: Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria solani, Alternaria alternata,Fusarium sp. (oxysporum, roseum, solani), Colletotrichumgloeosporioides, Penicillium sp., Phomopsis sp.,

Pineapples: Ceratocystis paradoxa.

An additional aspect of the present invention relates to an use of atleast one fungicidal anilinopyrimidine compound, in particularcyprodinil, mepanipyrim or pyrimethanil, and of imazalil in controllingfungi by simultaneous or sequential.

It goes without saying that the different variants or embodiments whichmay be envisaged both of the compositions and of the methods oftreatment and/or protection according to the invention form an integralpart of the present invention; it being possible for the said differentvariants, moreover, to be combined or associated with each other withoutas a result departing either from the spirit or from the scope of thesaid invention.

In the same manner, the different aspects of the present invention whichhave just been described may be combined or associated with each otherwithout as a result departing either from the spirit or from the scopeof the said invention.

The examples which follow will allow better illustration of the variousaspects of the present invention, in particular of the aspects relatingto the compositions and to the methods according to the invention usingthe said fungicidal compositions. However, these examples do not in anyway limit the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

This example gives an illustration of the efficacy of a compositionaccording to the invention for controlling Geotrichum candidum, thistrial was carried out in vitro.

The fungicidal compositions are used in solution at the doses detailedin Table 1.

These fungicidal compositions are used in the form of active ingredientspreviously dissolved in DMSO and then incorporated into a PDA (PotatoDextrose Agar) medium in superfusion at the doses previously describedin an amount of 6 μl of fungicidal solution+1 000 μl of PDA per well of15 mm in diameter of a microtitre plate (4 repeats/product).

1 day later, a microdrop of an aqueous suspension of Geotrichum candidumspores, supplemented with 400 ppm of Tween 20, is brought to the surfaceof each well of the microtitre plate.

The cultures are then incubated at 22° C., 60% relative humidity, undersubdued light until the control culture (without fungicide) has coveredthe entire surface of the well.

The diameter of each colony is then measured and, in comparison with theuntreated control, a percentage efficacy is calculated using thefollowing formula:(diameter of the control−diameter of the trial)/diameter of thecontrol×100.

The results are presented in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Radial growth of Efficacy the fungus (mm) (%) Control 15 /Imazalil at 60 ppm 14 7 Pyrimethanil at 60 ppm 15 0 Pyrimethanil +imazalil at 6 59  60 + 60 ppmEach fungicidal compound, taken in isolation, did not make it possibleto control the growth of the fungus whereas the combination provided asignificant level of control.

EXAMPLE 2

This example proposes to give an illustration of the efficacy of acomposition according to the invention for combating Gloeosporium spp.on apples, this trial was carried out in vivo.

The fungicidal compositions are used in solution at the doses detailedin Table 2.

Apples of the Golden variety, untreated after harvest, are treated bysprinkling a fungicidal solution up to the run-off limit at the dosesdescribed in Table 2 of results (8 apples per product).

6 hours later, the fruit are inoculated by sprinkling an aqueoussuspension at 150 000 spores/ml of Gloeosporium spp. obtained from apreculture on PDA medium. This inoculation by sprinkling is carried outup to the run-off limit.

The fruit are then stored in the dark at 20° C., 100% relative humidityand the scores for the disease start 3 weeks later, for a period of 2weeks.

The number of fruit affected by rot are counted and, in comparison withthe untreated control, a percentage efficacy is calculated using thefollowing formula:(diameter of the control−diameter of the trial)/diameter of thecontrol×100.

The results are presented in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2 Efficacy (%) Control / Pyrimethanil at 75 ppm 14.9 Imazalil at375 ppm −29.2  Pyrimethanil + 77.7 imazalil at 75 + 300 ppmAgain, each fungicide, taken in isolation, did not make it possible tocontrol the growth of the fungus whereas the combination provided asignificant level of control.

1. A method for the treatment of phytopathogenic organisms of plants orplant parts comprising contacting said plants or plant parts with acomposition consisting essentially of at least one fungicidal compoundof the family of anilinopyrimidines and imazalil wherrein saidanilinopyrimidines are selected from cyprodinil, mepanipyrim andpyrimethanil.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plant part is afruit.
 3. The method of claim 2 carried out after harvest.
 4. The methodof claim 1 wherein the plants or plant parts are dipped in a solution ofthe composition.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plants or plantparts are dipped in a solution comprising from 0.01 to 1% of thecomposition.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the fruit is selected fromthe group consisting of pome fruit, citrus fruit, stone fruit, grapes,kiwis, bananas, plantains, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, andpineapples.
 7. The method of claim 3 wherein the fruit is selected fromthe group consisting of pome fruit, citrus fruit, stone fruit, grapes,kiwis, bananas, plantains, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, andpineapples.
 8. The method of claim 4 wherein the plant parts is a fruitselected from the group consisting of pome fruit, citrus fruit, stonefruit, grapes, kiwis, bananas, plantains, strawberries, tomatoes,melons, and pineapples.
 9. The method of claim 5 protecting wherein theplant parts is a fruit selected from the group consisting of pome fruit,citrus fruit, stone fruit, grapes, kiwis, bananas, plantains,strawberries, tomatoes, melons, and pineapples.
 10. A compositionconsisting essentially of: (A) at least one fungicidal compound of thefamily of anilinopyrimidines selected from the group consisting ofcyprodinil, mepanipyrim, and pyrimethanil; (B) imazalil; and (C) up to99% of carrier and/or up to 25% of one or more surfactants and/or up to25% of one or more formulating agents; wherein the ratio of thequantities of (A) and (B) ranges from 0.05 to
 10. 11. The composition ofclaim 10 wherein the anilinopyrimidine is pyrimethanil.
 12. A method forthe treatment of phytopathogenic organisms of fruit comprisingcontacting said fruit with a composition consisting essentially of: (A)at least one fungicidal compound of the family of anilinopyrimidinesselected from the group consisting of cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, andpyrimethanil; (B) imazalil; and (C) up to 99% of carrier and/or up to25% of one or more surfactants and/or up to 25% of one or moreformulating agents; wherein the ratio of the quantities or (A) and (B)ranges from 0.05 to 10; wherein said method is carried out afterharvest; and wherein the fruit is dipped in a solution comprising from0.01 to 1% of the composition.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinanilinopyrimidine is pyrimethanil.
 14. The method of claim 13 whereinthe fruit is selected from the group consisting of pome fruit, citrusfruit, stone fruit, grapes, kiwis, bananas, plantains, strawberries,tomatoes, melons, and pineapples.